President Donald Trump and his top immigration advisor, Tom Homan, have made it clear they are not satisfied with the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests since returning to office. While ICE has significantly increased enforcement efforts, both Trump and Homan believe the agency must go further to remove more illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal records.

Homan, who serves as Trump’s “border czar,” told NewsNation this week that interior enforcement is “three times higher” than it was a year ago, but that is still not enough. “There are more criminal aliens that need to be arrested, hundreds of thousands,” Homan said. He pointed to obstacles such as sanctuary cities and leaks that have made enforcement more difficult.

Trump has also expressed frustration with ICE’s current arrest numbers. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he praised immigration authorities for their hard work but insisted more needs to be done. “They’re doing an amazing job, but it’s not easy finding murderers who know they’re being looked for,” he said. A source familiar with internal discussions revealed that Trump has told aides the number of arrests is “too low” and wants a much stronger crackdown.

ICE has averaged 787 arrests per day in recent weeks, with roughly 11,000 arrests made in the last 18 days. However, some migrants have been released from custody due to health concerns, limited detention space, and other factors. Homan confirmed he has spoken with ICE’s acting director and said no one should be released “without the clearance of headquarters.”

To expand enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security has requested assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, asking IRS agents to help investigate businesses hiring illegal workers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting IRS criminal investigators join the effort to dismantle human trafficking networks and uncover illegal employment practices.

The administration is also working on international agreements to speed up deportations, particularly with Central American nations such as Guatemala and El Salvador. Meanwhile, polling indicates that a majority of Americans support stronger deportation policies, though support weakens when details on enforcement tactics are introduced.